Gorgonopsia

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Gorgonopsia (from the Greek Gorgon, a mythological beast, and gr /óps/ 'aspect') is an extinct clade of sabre-toothed therapsids from the Middle to the Upper Permian, possibly even up to the Early Triassic, roughly between 265 and 252 million years ago. They are characterised by a long and narrow skull, as well as elongated upper and sometimes lower canine teeth and incisors which were likely used as slashing and stabbing weapons. Postcanine teeth are generally reduced or absent. For hunting large prey, they possibly used a bite-and-retreat tactic, ambushing and taking a debilitating bite out of the target, and following it at a safe distance before its injuries exhausted it, whereupon the gorgonopsian would grapple the animal and deliver a killing bite. They would have had an exorbitant gape, possibly in excess of 90°, without having to unhinge the jaw.